MEP Stanislav Stoyanov, elected by “Vazrazhdane” and part of the group “Europe of sovereign nations”, in a statement from the rostrum of the European Parliament, asked the European Union to assist Bulgaria in protecting its borders.
The conflict in the Middle East is growing, there are prerequisites for an even greater escalation, and with it the danger of a serious wave of migrants to Bulgaria. “Revival” emphasizes the urgent need to take preventive measures to strengthen Bulgaria's borders.
We believe that the European Union should support Bulgaria financially, as the border is external to the Union and on the path of major migrant flows. By protecting its border, Bulgaria supports the security of the entire EU. The improvement of infrastructure in the border areas, technique and equipment will strengthen the country's border protection capabilities.
“Freedom of movement is one of the main achievements of the union and is an advantage for us and for the economies of our countries. The Schengen area is indeed an instrument in this direction. However, the EU should be concerned not only with freedom of movement, but also with the security of its citizens. And today the Schengen area is in a serious crisis and does not meet the needs precisely in terms of security. It does not meet the geopolitical realities and risks we face. The Schengen Agreement must be reformed to ensure the security of member countries and zero illegal migration.
This means, first of all, to strengthen the external borders of the union, and to financially support the member countries charged with their protection, because there are no secure internal borders without secure external ones. The European Union, of course, must monitor the correct use of these funds.
The approach to security and migration needs to be completely rethought if we really want safety and stability. The time for comprehensive, coordinated reform is now!”, said Stanislav Stoyanov from the rostrum of the European Parliament.
This week "Revival" was rotating chairman of the regular meeting of the delegation of Bulgarian MPs in the EP. The representatives of "Revival" posed the question during the session and sparked a fruitful discussion on preparing for the challenges ahead. There was a consensus that now is a good time to strengthen the Bulgarian border, which is external to the EU. We will look for opportunities to realize this intention.